Feeding Cattle Wheat Vs. Corn

Before World War II, cattle grazed on grass, which formed their primary food intake. Most cows were fed only grass from the time they were born until they were slaughtered. However, since after the war, cattle have been fed a number of other varieties of fodder such as wheat and corn. While these are given mainly to make the cows grow heavier in size, they also supply the animals with important nutrients and minerals. However, like every innovation, the practice of feeding grains to cattle has come with a series of disadvantages.

  1. Digestion

    • Cows that are fed wheat are more likely to suffer from digestive disorders. Wheat, which is high in protein content, has a rapid rate of starch digestion, making it difficult to pass through the digestive system. Cows feeding on wheat suffer from indigestion, bloating and irregular eating patterns. Corn, on the other hand, is easier to digest. Since it is lower in protein content, it has a slow rate of starch digestion, making it easier for the cattle to digest.

    Fattening

    • Corn is always seen as profitable feed because it is more fattening than wheat. While a portion of corn feed contains 4.1 percent fat, the same amount of wheat feed contains only 2.3 percent fat, according to the Province of Manitoba. Also, research has shown that wheat is less palatable than corn and so the cattle eat more of the corn feed, thereby becoming fatter. However, since corn is not a natural diet for cows, it induces harmful side-effects such as inducing the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in the cow's body.

    Mineral Contents

    • Wheat and corn both have comparable nutritional value. While one portion of corn has 0.03 percent calcium, the same portion of wheat contains 0.05 percent of calcium, according to North Dakota State University. While corn has 0.44 percent of potassium, 0.40 percent is found in wheat. Corn has 0.11 percent sulphur, while corn has 0.14 percent. Both corn and wheat have 0.01 percent of sodium in them.

    Availability and Price

    • With recent concerns looming over the low production rates of corn and the subsequent price hike, livestock farmers are shifting toward wheat as a more economical option. The corn production rates are set to drop dramatically leading to low availability, according to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released on January 12, 2011.